coralreef Posted December 4, 2013 Report Share Posted December 4, 2013 (edited) I broke my ankle Aug 31st so my Celica hasn't been used since then, advise for when I begin using it again please. I started it up occasionally and rolled it slightly on the drive to rotate the tyres, handbrake was off for first few months. I then needed to move it to a different part of the drive due to that massive storm that was forecast - the battery was flat so I charged it & moved it, and left the handbrake on ... Just incase it blew away haha!! Anyway I forgot handbrake was on, car went flat again - handbrake is now off again (reckon it was on about 4 weeks) and the battery is flat again, well flat enough not to start but loads of power for the alarm/Central locking etc. I know I'm going to have to buy a new battery before I start using it again (plus it's sorned) so I'm looking to start using it again in January as my daily driver. My question - other than a new battery - anything else I should consider? The discs are obviously very rusty (rear discs and pads have only had 2 months use & fronts less than 2000miles) ... Will the surface rust just scrape off if I drive down the road with my brakes lightly on?? My car in the meantime has been a Jap Import MK 1 mx5 (well Eunos Roadster) auto, I bloody love it!! (I did try to drive the Celica but my ankle is too weak for the clutch) ... Fed up/feeling bad about relying on friends & family I started looking at autos but couldn't bring myself to spend ££ on a car i'd hate so started looking at anything & everything, this worked out a bargain on insurance as it's a classic car (big thanks to Neil at Greenlight for a fantastic policy!!) might as well post a cheeky pic: As much as I love the MX5 it is a tad cold in winter, however seeing as I've paid for a years insurance I'm going to stick it up for sale shortly & replace it with a manual one for a weekend/summer car :-) So I've got over Christmas to sort the Celica out & begin to start using it regularly again (I'm still having trouble with my ankle so hope this is a reasonable goal!!) ... any input? Edited December 4, 2013 by coralreef Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dublet Posted December 4, 2013 Report Share Posted December 4, 2013 Brake a few times and the rust should clear right up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coralreef Posted December 4, 2013 Author Report Share Posted December 4, 2013 Lovely, nice & simple! Much as I like ... Love the Celica I've had it a while now & am really really liking the mx5, I hope driving the Celica reminds me why I love(d) it It is a billion times comfier though!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ams Posted December 4, 2013 Report Share Posted December 4, 2013 If the battery is still ok to open the doors, might be worth taking it off and taking to your local garage who should charge £3 to put it on a proper charger for a day. Would probably leave it disconnected whilst it's parked, I do this on my cars and it means they work after 6 months If the battery is still ok to open the doors, might be worth taking it off and taking to your local garage who should charge £3 to put it on a proper charger for a day. Would probably leave it disconnected whilst it's parked, I do this on my cars and it means they work after 6 months Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dublet Posted December 4, 2013 Report Share Posted December 4, 2013 http://www.homebase.co.uk/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?langId=110&storeId=10151&partNumber=212233&un_jtt_v_unSetCookie=yes Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ams Posted December 4, 2013 Report Share Posted December 4, 2013 Proper charger can bring a really low battery back to life - them smaller chargers don't always do it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coralreef Posted December 4, 2013 Author Report Share Posted December 4, 2013 I've got 2 different chargers and I've left it charging for around 18 hrs on the last charge I did on a trickle charge I think (well had it in my motorbike setting?) ... it's not very old - perhaps just over a year old but I don't think I could trust it now to be honest? Not with it being cold weather season an all & I will be relying in it for work ... Suppose it might be worth one more shot though, cheers ams I agree I should have removed it BUT then there's no alarm... And I'm paranoid lol!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tazz Posted December 4, 2013 Report Share Posted December 4, 2013 Leave the battery in it and do a few local drives not to far and see how it goes. Brake disks will clear up within 10 minutes of driving Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coralreef Posted December 4, 2013 Author Report Share Posted December 4, 2013 (edited) It's sorned until January now as I've just paid out for 6 months tax on the mx5. So first run it can have will be Jan 1st ... I'll give the battery another long charge this weekend & if no luck I'll buy myself one for Christmas, or ask my brother too :-) doesn't seem so bad when I put it like that! HAD been really enjoying the mx5 in the last few weeks of mild weather but it's just gone back to frosty cold weather - in the AM I will be missing the Celica quick clear windscreen with no need for de-icer lol :-( Edited December 4, 2013 by coralreef Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coralreef Posted December 26, 2013 Author Report Share Posted December 26, 2013 Today the celica got a thorough wash in prep for going back on the road Jan 1st :-D ordered the new battery yesterday & will pay for the tax tomorrow .... Now its clean I'm really excited to get back in it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JonSam50 Posted December 27, 2013 Report Share Posted December 27, 2013 With the whole battery issue there is only so far a battery can be depleted before it can't be recharged again. Good to see you've got a new one coming good luck I'm sure your feelings for the celica will come flooding back Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coralreef Posted December 27, 2013 Author Report Share Posted December 27, 2013 I gave it a last chance and it failed so new battery it was, not from mr T this time so may last a bit longer :-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jay_28 Posted December 31, 2013 Report Share Posted December 31, 2013 I got a gut feeling you will rid of the celica in favour of the mx5 Ad you keep mentioning how much you love the mx5 lolz Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ReloadedSR Posted January 1, 2014 Report Share Posted January 1, 2014 I do have to admit that ive driven both the original shape MX5 and the newer shape and they are both a banging drive! Well balanced and just the right amount of grip to really push it without stepping the rear out too much without meaning to. However i would take the Celica over a MX5 any day. More room is the clincher for me, and the fact it is front wheel drive and i can throw it into corners most rear wheel drive cars back out of is also a bonus. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coralreef Posted January 1, 2014 Author Report Share Posted January 1, 2014 (edited) Well it's Jan 1st and the weather is bloody terrible!! Will take the Celica out shortly - can't wait!! Wish it wasn't raining though (actually it's not raining it's belting it down!!) and will take it for a long-ish run ... Looking forward to it!! Edited January 1, 2014 by coralreef Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coralreef Posted January 1, 2014 Author Report Share Posted January 1, 2014 (edited) Update been out: put in £50 worth of 97ron petrol, already had a 1/4 tank but was worried it may have degraded a bit so added some of that Wyanns (same as Red-Ex) petrol additive. Nice to drive - soooooo quiet compared to the MX-5!! Kept forgetting I wasn't driving an automatic which was amusing and annoyingly the wipes/indicators are on opposite sides so there was lots of indicating with the wipers! 14 miles and I seem to have remembered (!) how to drive it - drove around for about 25miles all in. Only problem I have is the central locking is being a bit funny. Very slow to unlock - but does do it with the key. when in the car the button to lock/unlock will lock the doors - but it won't unlock them - just gave the doors a quick squirt with WD-40 but haven't had the chance to investigate further as it's dark and STILL raining. Anyway, feels very solid and refined to drive, did put a smile on my face but did feel a tad slow compared to the mx-5 Edited January 1, 2014 by coralreef Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ams Posted January 1, 2014 Report Share Posted January 1, 2014 if the light on the fob comes on when you press the lock button - then its probably because a door or bootlid isnt closed properly - is the door open warning light on? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coralreef Posted January 1, 2014 Author Report Share Posted January 1, 2014 Think I explained that wrong ams - when I use the fob to unlock the car there is a couple of second hesitation before it unlocks - yet the lock button is instant. When inside the car the button in the centre console that unlocks/locks will lock the car but not unlock it. So I have to either manually unlock the car using the door lock/unlock button which is on the door release (for want of a better word!) or I have to push the unlock button on my fob. No doors/boot are showing as open. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dublet Posted January 1, 2014 Report Share Posted January 1, 2014 Think I explained that wrong ams - when I use the fob to unlock the car there is a couple of second hesitation before it unlocks - yet the lock button is instant.Try changing the battery in the fob. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coralreef Posted January 1, 2014 Author Report Share Posted January 1, 2014 (edited) Yeah I wondered that dublet - I've put 2 in my bag so I can do it tomorrow while at work! Would be a nice simple fix - I swear I've changed the battery fob so many times already since owning this car...maybe it just feels like it. Didn't think that would stop the unlock/lock button inside the car from working though? Guess what I found on the car today whilst I was resetting the clock - a temp gauge ... I've owned gen 7 Celicas for 3 years - how did I not know that was there?!! Edited January 1, 2014 by coralreef Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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